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Victor Dempsey advocates for direct services as an alternative to criminalization
3:16:31
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116 sec
Victor Dempsey, a community organizer and former gang member, argues that direct services are the alternative to criminalization and the gang database. He emphasizes the importance of community-specific solutions and listening to youth voices.
- Dempsey stresses that alternatives should focus on direct services rather than criminalization
- He highlights the unique needs of different communities and the importance of tailored approaches
- Dempsey advocates for including youth voices in finding solutions to community issues
Victor Dempsey
3:16:31
start.
3:16:33
Think the whole Okay.
3:16:36
I'll start and give a piece of it.
3:16:40
You've heard a few of our panelists say, you even heard some of our council members even talk about it, that there are alternatives out here.
3:16:46
We have like like myself being formally gang involved, being formally incarcerated, and still being of community.
3:16:51
The alternative is direct services, That's the alternative, not criminalization.
3:16:57
And we say time and time again the criminalization of our youth because what's happening a lot of times is they might see a few kids playing basketball on the court and maybe that got out of control and maybe a fight it might it might ensue.
3:17:09
But before they've committed a criminal act, they're being criminalized.
3:17:12
So we talk about alternatives, I don't think that it's a catchment to one thing that's gonna change everything.
3:17:16
I think what we have council members like Althea Stevens to say hey, we speak directly to these youth and they're actually giving us the information of what they need to succeed in their own communities.
3:17:26
This is not a cookie cutter issue.
3:17:28
I think every community even though we continue to say black and brown, every black and brown community is very unique to their own needs.
3:17:35
And I also think we don't, I'm not I'm a 40 year old man who's done my own stuff in the streets, but now next to me I have a youth advocate that I can reach out and call and say, hey Aliyah what's going on with that, what do you guys need?
3:17:47
And I hear directly from those voices.
3:17:49
So again I can sit here and say, oh it's alternatives, oh it's credible messengers, oh it's a lack of gems.
3:17:55
Every community is completely different.
3:17:57
But what I do know is when our young kids see law enforcement turn their lights on and run up to them and ask them where they're coming and where they're going from, that has not been the answer.
3:18:07
And it actually perpetuates a lack of trust.
3:18:11
So while I would love to give you some framework that makes a lot of sense to us today, I think I wanna come to you and ask, don't just allow us as sitting at the table, allow our youth and their voices to have to sit at the table to tell us what their needs are.
3:18:25
Just
Aaliyah Guillory-Nickens
3:18:26
to echo that point, I think
Diana I. Ayala
3:18:27
that